Red Bull Cold Rush Resurrected for 2015

Red Bull’s backcountry freeskiing competition, Cold Rush, is making a return in 2015. The first edition of the event since 2012 will take place at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains.

The energy drink company held the first Cold Rush in 2008 at Red Mountain in Rossland, B.C., after warm temps and an ensuing deep freeze in 2007 rendered the terrain unsafe for skiing. Retallack, B.C., hosted in 2009 and 2010 before Red Bull moved the operation south to Silverton, Colorado, which also hosted the 2012 contest.

Despite high-profile freeskiers like Dave Treadway and the late J.P. Auclair throwing down at the event, Red Bull shut Cold Rush down after 2012. A Red Bull spokesperson told Powder that the company was considering a changeup from Silverton, and having 2013 off would give planners time to evaluate new venues for 2014 or later. But the hiatus lasted into 2014 as well.

The 2015 iteration will bring back some aspects of old Cold Rush competitions, but also change things up. According to Red Bull’s statement, the 15 men and five women who compete will still be judged by their peers in backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs, and alpine-touring events. Each run will be evaluated on style, speed, and technique. Each day of competition will focus on a specific discipline, but ski touring will matter more in scoring next year, with competitors vying to cross different areas of the mountain in the shortest time possible.

The competition runs February 3 to 6, and invitations have already been sent out. Red Bull will release the official list of athletes who will compete for the $36,000 prize in January.